1 : to breathe smoke from a cigarette, pipe, etc., in and out of the lungs [no obj] ▪ She sat on the porch puffing on a cigarette. ▪ The men spent the evening puffing (away) at cigars. [+ obj] ▪ He puffed [=smoked] a pipe. 2 a : to produce or send out small clouds of smoke or steam [+ obj] ▪ He puffed [=blew] smoke into my face. ▪ The chimney puffed white smoke into the sky. [no obj] ▪ Steam puffed (out) from the pot.
b always followed by an adverb or preposition [no obj] : to move in a particular direction while producing clouds of steam or smoke
▪ We watched the train puff away on its journey west. 3 [no obj] informal a : to breathe loudly especially because of hard physical activity
▪ He was puffing and panting from running.
b always followed by an adverb or preposition : to move or do something while breathing loudly
▪ The bikers puffed up the hill. 4 a [no obj] : to become larger and rounder than normal — usually + up ▪ Her face puffed up [=swelled] from an allergic reaction to the almonds. ▪ The cake puffed up as it baked in the oven.
b [+ obj] : to make (something) larger and rounder than normal
▪ He puffed his chest and swaggered into the room. — usually + up ▪ The frog puffed itself up. ▪ He puffed up his chest and swaggered into the room.